QEC crews arrive in Kimmirut as power outage extends into fourth day
Electricity restored at power plant, efforts underway to restore power in community, electricity supplier says
Qulliq Energy Corp. crews from Iqaluit are in Kimmirut Sunday morning to help restore electricity in the hamlet of 475, Nunavut’s electricity provider says. Kimmirut is into its fourth day without power after a “complete community power loss” on Oct. 31. (File photo)
Qulliq Energy Corp. crews landed in Kimmirut Sunday morning and began working “to resolve the issues” related to the community-wide electricity outage, which was into its fourth day Sunday.
Nunavut’s electricity provider announced around 10 a.m. on social media the arrival of crews that came from Iqaluit.
“Power has now been restored to the power plant and efforts are underway to restore power to the community,” a QEC message said.
Premier P.J. Akeeagok said staff in Government of Nunavut departments, including Education as well as Community and Government Services, were working on emergency supports and solutions.
“Let’s do what we do best, Nunavut, help each other when faced with an emergency,” Akeeagok wrote in a social media post Sunday morning.
The Nunavut government declared a state of emergency on Saturday, three days after the hamlet experienced what the government called a “complete community power loss.”
There was “limited backup power” available in the hamlet of approximately 475 people located on the south side of Baffin Island, the GN said.
A warming centre had been set up at Qaqqalik School.
The weather forecast called for a high temperature of -5 C with a north wind blowing at 20 km/h. The low temperature is expected to be -14 C with the wind chill, Environment and Climate Change Canada said.
Declaring a state of emergency allows the government to “expedite” the steps it needs to take to provide support to the Hamlet of Kimmirut. It also gives the GN more authority to assign its own assets and those of public agencies to assist with the emergency.
A state of emergency is a temporary measure. In this case, it will be in effect for 14 days, the GN said.
Why the delay?????????? QEC crews should have been sent once the community reached the 24 hr mark without power. Wow. I’d be sending my bill for all of my spoiled food to QEC.
Crews didn’t only arrive on Sunday to start repairs. This is incorrect reporting NN, check the QEC PSAs. Trades people worked around the clock from the moment the issue was reported and multiple charters were sent over.
No.
Crew should be requested as soon as the QEC people in the community determine that the issue is likely beyond their capability to resolve promptly with remote assistance.
24 hours puts you into darkness. No flights can land unless the community is organized enough to use vehicle headlights to mark the runway. And even then, you need the weather to cooperate.
This sounds like a fail at all levels, from local operations to Nunavut Emergency Management and beyond.